When South Carolina fired the football coach Will Muschamp last November, three beginners in secondary Gamecocks opted out of the season.
Cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Israel Mukuamu left early to start preparing for the NFL draft. Safety RJ Roderick was the third, but his reasoning to stay away from the team was never revealed at that time. On Monday, the veteran clarified his decision, citing several reasons why football had to be left out.
“I have been dealing with a lot of academic and health problems dealing with injuries,” said Roderick. “With Muschamp and (my coach) T-Rob released (after the season), it was difficult. I thought it was the best decision to make at the time ”.
Roderick cited a hip pointer as the main injury he was dealing with, a disease that caused pain on and off the field. In six games played last season (all matches), Roderick had 23 tackles.
“I’m still dealing with it now, honestly,” said Roderick. “I am still undergoing treatment for this. That was what I was dealing with at the time and it affected the way I played and how I would walk throughout the day. With greed, coaches being fired, me being hurt and worrying about the future, it was where I was (with the decision to give up).
“It was difficult (being away) and watching my boys play, but I spent that time committing myself to work harder, improving my grades, making sure that I would remain eligible to make my mother proud and focused on becoming better in different areas. It was depressing not to play football. I’m here, spring has started and I’m loving everything. “
Nine Gamecocks decided to transfer from the program in the transition from Muschamp’s trainer to Shane Beamer. Roderick admitted that he never thought of entering his name on the transfer portal, but the uncertainties about his future weighed heavily on him. What ultimately made him feel comfortable was meeting Beamer.
“I didn’t get to the point where I thought I wouldn’t play football anymore, but I had a gray area with regard to my future,” said Roderick. “With the arrival of Coach Beamer, I already had a relationship and a relationship with him in high school. He sat me and my mother and expressed that he wanted me to be here and I wanted to be here. “
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One of the four players who gave up and returned, Roderick was the only one to leave the team for the season and then decide to return in the off-season. Asked if he thought he needed to fix a relationship with his teammates by leaving the team with three games left for the 2020 schedule, he said they were helpful in getting him back.
“It’s like we never missed a step,” said Roderick. “It’s been fun since I came back. It’s a good time to be here, regardless of work. There were no strange moments (between my companions). “
Roderick has played 31 games in the past three seasons, making 22 games. He has 134 career tackles with a couple of interceptions.